Checkout conveyor system for visually separating items

Abstract

A checkout conveyor system for visually separating items is an apparatus that automatically projects a light as a divider. The apparatus includes a first rail, a second rail, a plurality of first illumination devices, a motion sensor, a plurality of first proximity sensors, a plurality of second proximity sensors, at least one microcontroller, and at least one power source. The first rail upholds and positions the plurality of first illumination devices and the plurality of first proximity sensors along a checkout system of the apparatus. The plurality of first illumination devices projects a line across a space between groups of items detected by the plurality of first proximity sensors and the plurality of second proximity sensors. The motion sensor activates the line. The at least one microcontroller manages the inputs and outputs. The at least one power source supplies the necessary power.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A checkout conveyor system for visually separating items comprising:
 a first rail; 
 a second rail; 
 a plurality of first illumination devices; 
 a motion sensor; 
 a plurality of first proximity sensors; 
 a plurality of second proximity sensors; 
 at least one microcontroller; 
 at least one power source; 
 the first rail and the second rail being mounted parallel and offset from each other; 
 the plurality of first illumination devices and the plurality of first proximity sensors being mounted along the first rail; 
 the plurality of first illumination devices and the plurality of first proximity sensors being oriented towards the second rail; 
 the plurality of second proximity sensors being mounted along the second rail; 
 the plurality of second proximity sensors being oriented towards the first rail; 
 the motion sensor being externally mounted to the first rail; 
 the plurality of first illumination devices, the motion sensor, the plurality of first proximity sensors, the plurality of second proximity sensors, and the at least one power source being electronically connected with the at least one microcontroller; and, 
 the plurality of first illumination devices, the motion sensor, the plurality of first proximity sensors, and the plurality of second proximity sensors being electrically connected with the at least one power source. 
 
     
     
       2. The checkout conveyor system for visually separating items as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 a checkout system; 
 the checkout system comprising a conveyor belt, a first elongated barrier, and a second elongated barrier; 
 the first elongated barrier and the second elongated barrier being positioned parallel and offset from each other; 
 the conveyor belt being mounted in between the first elongated barrier and the second elongated barrier; 
 the first rail and the second rail being positioned in between the first elongated barrier and the second elongated barrier; 
 the first rail and the second rail being positioned adjacent to the conveyor belt; 
 the first rail being connected adjacent and along the first elongated barrier; 
 the plurality of first illumination devices and the plurality of first proximity sensors being positioned adjacent to the first rail, opposite the first elongated barrier; and, 
 the second rail being connected adjacent and along the second elongated barrier. 
 
     
     
       3. The checkout conveyor system for visually separating items as claimed in  claim 2  comprising:
 a reset button; 
 the checkout system further comprising a scanner; 
 the conveyor belt comprising an input end and an output end; 
 the scanner being mounted adjacent with the output end; 
 the motion sensor being positioned adjacent with the input end; 
 the motion sensor being mounted adjacent to the first rail, opposite the conveyor belt; 
 the reset button being positioned adjacent with the output end; 
 the reset button being mounted onto the second rail, opposite the conveyor belt; and, 
 the reset button being electronically connected to the at least one microcontroller. 
 
     
     
       4. The checkout conveyor system for visually separating items as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 the plurality of first illumination devices being evenly distributed along the first rail; and, 
 each of the plurality of first proximity sensors being positioned adjacent to a corresponding illumination device from the plurality of first illumination devices. 
 
     
     
       5. The checkout conveyor system for visually separating items as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first illumination devices is a light emitting diode (LED) array. 
     
     
       6. The checkout conveyor system for visually separating items as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 a plurality of second illumination devices; 
 the plurality of second illumination devices being mounted along the second rail; 
 the plurality of second illumination devices being oriented towards the first rail; 
 the plurality of second illumination devices being electronically connected with the at least one microcontroller; and, 
 the plurality of second illumination devices being electrically connected with the at least one power source. 
 
     
     
       7. The checkout conveyor system for visually separating items as claimed in  claim 6  comprising:
 the plurality of second illumination devices being evenly distributed along the second rail; and, 
 each of the plurality of second proximity sensors being positioned adjacent to a corresponding illumination device from the plurality of second illumination devices. 
 
     
     
       8. The checkout conveyor system for visually separating items as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of second illumination devices is an LED array. 
     
     
       9. The checkout conveyor system for visually separating items as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 the at least one microcontroller and the at least one power source being mounted within the first rail. 
 
     
     
       10. The checkout conveyor system for visually separating items as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 a controller box; 
 the controller box being laterally connected with the first rail; and, 
 the at least one microcontroller and the at least one power source being mounted within the controller box. 
 
     
     
       11. The checkout conveyor system for visually separating items as claimed in  claim 1  comprising:
 a first wireless communication device; 
 a second wireless communication device; 
 the at least one microcontroller comprising a first microcontroller and a second microcontroller; 
 the at least one power source comprising a first power source and a second power source; 
 the first wireless communication device being electronically connected with the first microcontroller; 
 the first wireless communication device and the first microcontroller being electrically connected with the first power source; 
 the second wireless communication device being electronically connected with the second microcontroller; 
 the second wireless communication device and the second microcontroller being electrically connected with the second power source; and, 
 the first wireless communication device being communicably coupled with the second wireless communication device. 
 
     
     
       12. The checkout conveyor system for visually separating items as claimed in  claim 11  comprising:
 the first wireless communication device, the first microcontroller, and the first power source being mounted within the first rail. 
 
     
     
       13. The checkout conveyor system for visually separating items as claimed in  claim 11  comprising:
 the second wireless communication device, the second microcontroller, and the second power source being mounted within the second rail. 
 
     
     
       14. The checkout conveyor system for visually separating items as claimed in  claim 11  comprising:
 a first controller box; 
 the first controller box being laterally connected with the first rail; and, 
 the first wireless communication device, the first microcontroller, and the first power source being mounted within the controller box. 
 
     
     
       15. The checkout conveyor system for visually separating items as claimed in  claim 11  comprising:
 a second controller box; 
 the second controller box being laterally connected with the second rail; and, 
 the second wireless communication device, the second microcontroller, and the second power source being mounted within the controller box.